What is a red panda? Can You Keep a Red Panda as a Pet?

The red panda, also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws.

Red pandas live in temperate climates in deciduous and coniferous forests at 2500-4800 meters. It inhabits large tree caves or stone caves and rock crevices. They come out in the morning and evening to feed, and spend most of the day sleeping in caves or in the shade of large trees.

Considered the national animal of Sikkim in the 1990s, a male red panda named Babu escaped from the Birmingham Nature Centre in the United Kingdom and became a media sensation before he was recaptured. In 2013, a female red panda named Rusty at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., was the first animal to win the "Brummie of the year" award. In 2013, a female red panda named "Rusty" at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., had a similar escape experience and became an internet sensation. Ranked thirteenth on CNN's 2013 list of the world's cutest species.

Can You Keep a Red Panda as a Pet?

The short answer is no. To start with, red pandas are an endangered species. For this reason, it is illegal to own one.

Aside from being illegal and something that we never suggest or support, keeping a Red Panda as a pet is detrimental to their health. Even the most rambunctious dog or cat is nothing like having a Red Panda in your home. Made for the outdoors, these animals have long claws to help them climb trees

If you would like to own a Red panda, you can order our Red panda Plush Toy as a replacement. Our plush red panda are so soft, cute and cuddly that we can hardly stand it!

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Check Our Panda Collection: KEAIART Red Panda Collection